Posted Toronto Political Panel: The push to turn the Scarborough RT into a subway

Toronto will likely never be free from politicians meddling in transit strategies

Will we ever be set free from politicians meddling in perfectly workable transit strategies? Matt Gurney, Chris Selley and NOW staff writer Jonathan Goldsbie agree: No, we probably won’t.

Goldsbie: When Rob Ford moved to put off his Executive Committee’s discussion of new revenue tools for transit, it was frustrating but not particularly surprising. Confronted with a problem, Ford lashes out at all available solutions without offering any workable alternatives; that’s just what he does. When Karen Stintz revived murmurs about converting the Scarborough RT to a subway line, however, it was both frustrating and surprising. Confronted with a solution (i,e., converting the line to LRT, as she’d already led Council and Metrolinx to agree to), Stintz goes out and creates a problem.

Two key things have long held back transit development in Toronto. The first, and arguably more important, of these is money: Provincial and federal governments that have been reluctant to meaningfully invest in transit, either through cash they already have or through funds raised especially for the purpose. The second is an inability to commit to a course of action: Again and again, year after year, decade after decade, lines are drawn and redrawn and scratched out and drawn again, as we wait for a plan to stick in place long enough for it to maybe get funded and built. It’s well established that Ford represents an obstacle to funding. But why would Stintz choose to give voice to the other kind of inert, anachronistic political instinct that has already brought us toward so much nothing?

Gurney: Well, I’m not sure we should be surprised by this, given that Stintz has shown in the past that she’s willing to trash established plans in favour of new solutions. Remember her OneCity plan? That also came out of nowhere, and if I recall correctly, also involved transforming the SRT into a subway. So, hey, it’s not unprecedented. But beyond that, there is another element here that might — might — make this different. I admit I’m choosing to indulge my underutilized streak of optimism, but perhaps Stintz is responding to a signal from above. Not divine, necessarily (though Toronto could use the help). There are reports that, if asked by council, the provincial government would be keen to find a way to make this work. OK, two interpretations there: Stintz and her backers are wrong, and this idea is as futile and doomed as the last time. But here’s the optimism: Given that a budget is coming up, with a provincial deficit coming in with a smaller deficit than forecast, and given that it’s a minority government where all parties agree transit is vital in Toronto … perhaps there’s been a signal from Queen’s Park that such a request would be accommodated, if made through proper channels.

Please, just build something

Selley: What the hell, I’ll try to be optimistic too: There’s a much better case for the SRT-replacement subway than for the other fantasy subways that have preoccupied our politics lo these past few years, and the money is mostly there to build it. Theoretically, this could indeed be a quick tweak to the current transit plan. But it’s too cute by more than half, and it reeks of politics. Back in October, when the Commission directed staff to study Scarborough subway(s), Stintz framed it as a matter of ensuring that if subways became a provincial election issue, “the right subway” was up for debate — SRT-replacement yes, “closing the loop” to Don Mills station, no. I don’t recall her saying that she would lead the charge!

The Globe‘s story on Saturday suggested that this might back Rob Ford into a corner by linking his beloved subways inexorably to the much-discussed proposed new funding tools, the mention of which causes our Mayor to mime vomiting. But I don’t think it’s possible to back a politician as incoherent as Rob Ford into a logical corner — and by no means does the attempt justify monkeying with the precious few billions we actually have to spend on transit. I will not deviate from my position on tis: No more screwing around. For the love of God, please, just build something.

Goldsbie: Well, I thought she’d learned some things from the OneCity fiasco, a significant lesson being that taking Glenn De Baeremaeker seriously tends to be more trouble than it’s worth. If the left-ish Scarborough councillor regrets backing an LRT on Sheppard (or is dreading the years-long shutdown of the RT that will accompany the conversion of the line), that doesn’t mean you have to indulge every single one of his efforts to save face with his constituents. Whenever possible, transit planning shouldn’t be linked to individual careers.

Selley: Alas, in Toronto, that is almost never possible. But between this and our recent Bixi Boondoggle panel, we may have a new rule: If you find yourself supporting a project about which Glenn De Baeremaeker is incredibly enthused, back slowly away and carefully reconsider your position.

Gurney: Believe me, you could sell me on a model where some expert group proposes plans and then the city figures out how to pay for them, or how much of the plan we can afford at a time, and what have you. But that’s a bit of a broader discussion. As for this one, hey, if the money can be found or obtained from the province, sure, by all means, replace the SRT with a subway. I don’t care. I never have. I’m with Chris: Just build something. I’m getting reasonably confident that the Eglinton Crosstown is going to happen, and we’ll have to see how this Metrolinx thing shakes out. I’m going to indulge in some optimism again: As far as I see it, something is going to replace the SRT. If it can be a subway, great. If not, I doubt the plan for an LRT replacement will just vapourize.